BCD436HP Reception problem.

[digger0054]

I received an Uniden BCD436HP ver. 1.03.00 on Nov 5 2014. My scanner drops an active dept. freq. every 5 sec., for 0.5 sec. Then repeats this, (on-off-on-off-on-off) for as long as the freq. is active. I have spent meany hours each day learning the in's and out's of this new scanner. I have also read the RR forums. The drops are not random as with a weak signal, but repeating like clockwork on a strong signal (4 bars). SQ is set to 2. I have 3 other scanners (different brands) that work fine. Here is what I have tried. Used an external Antennacraft discone. Put the rubber duck back on and went for a 30 mile road trip. Set ATT on-off. Changed every HOLD Timer I could find. Transmitted from my ham radio on 2 meter to the 436hp. I created a FL and scanned only that list. Also occurs on 800MHz and P25. Then finely, and most interesting, set the SQ to 0 and monitored 155.520 MHz. The speaker emitted white noise for 5 sec. Then silence for 0.5 sec. Then white noise for 5 sec. Then silence for 0.5 sec. Etc, etc, etc. Any suggestions?

 

[jonwienke]

You have priority scan or close call on.

In which case the scanner will stop what it is doing every 5 seconds or so, and switch to priority channels or close call momentarily, then go back to scanning normal traffic. Change priority scan/close call to Do Not Disturb and it will not interrupt when traffic is being received.

 

[UPMan]

If it drops every 5 seconds, then you have WX priority turned on (shorter duration between breaks for other priorities).

 

[digger0054]

WX was on and causing the 5 sec. blips

Thank you so much. WX was on as I see the icon wx in the lower right display of my 436. It took me a few minutes to turn it off. On page 74 of the Manuel I read to press “CHAN” then “Func” and “6>WX” to toggle. It worked. I'm a happy camper.

 

[TxScanner]

Glad you got it resolved, the 436, is a p retty nice scanner, i just got one myself, had a Home Patrol-1, I sure miss that easy to see touch screen on it.

 

[digger0054]

Reply to GLAD YOU FOUND THE ANSWER

Yes it is an awesome scanner. There are so many features, I was overwhelmed. All the problems I was having were related to not understanding this full featured radio. The menu’s are designed logically, but I'm having a hard time remembering all the possible things it can do. I almost returned the radio as I was at a dead in and frustrated. Thank goodness there is RR forum. I'm testing BuTel software. I can better understand the user interface when setting up FL and QK's, compared to Sentinel. But Sentinel is free and Butel is 70.00. I'll probable buy it. Life is too short. I'm having fun with this new scanner.